A third of people in the UK believe a woman is partially or completely to blame for being raped if she has behaved in a flirtatious manner, according to "shocking" research published today.

More than a quarter also believe a woman is at least partly responsible if she wears sexy or revealing clothing, or is drunk, the Amnesty International-commissioned study found. Support groups described the findings as "alarming" and urged criminal justice professionals and healthcare workers to "consider how best to educate people."